Chief Exorcist Father Amorth: Padre Pio Knew The Third Secret

Father Gabriele Amorth

In a recent article on the Secret of Fatima, Steve Skojec, the founder and editor of OnePeterFive, published, to my knowledge, for the first time in the English language words from Rome’s chief exorcist, Father Gabriele Amorth (d. 2016), about Padre Pio and his knowledge of the Third Secret of Fatima. They come from a newly published book written by JosΓ© MarΓ­a Zavala, entitled The Best Kept Secret of Fatima (El SΓ©creto Mejor Guardado de FΓ‘tima). OnePeterFive‘s contributor, Mr. Andrew Guernsey, was very helpful in finding these quotes. Since Mr. Skojec’s own article is somewhat lengthy, many readers may not have realized the importance of this interview with Father Amorth, which was only to be published after the priest’s death. In the following, I shall quote extensively from Steve’s own post which first speaks about Father Amorth’s own conviction that the specific Consecration of Russia has not yet taken place, and then enters into the larger discussion about Fatima:

It [a piece of the Fatima puzzle] came in the form of an interview with the very famous (and now deceased) Roman exorcist, Fr. Gabriel Amorth, also conducted by JosΓ© MarΓ­a Zavala. Fr. Amorth personally knew Saint (Padre) Pio for 26 years, and it is from this towering figure of 20th century Catholic sanctity that he claims to have learned the contents of the Third Secret of Fatima.

Fr. Amorth was interviewed by Zavala in 2011, who kept the interview secret until after the exorcist’s death, publishing it for the first time in his book about Fatima. In the interview, Fr. Amorth relates β€” as he has done elsewhere β€” that he does not believe the consecration of the world by Pope John Paul II in 1984 was sufficient to satisfy the requirements set forth by Our Lady.

β€œThere was no such consecration then,” he [Father Amorth] says. β€œI witnessed the act. I was in St. Peter’s Square that Sunday afternoon, very close to the Pope; so close, I could almost touch him.”

Pressed by Zavala as to why he so forcefully believes that the consecration was not done, Fr. Amorth replied: β€œVery simple: John Paul II wanted to mention Russia expressly, but in the end he did not.”

Zavala pressed the issue with Fr. Amorth, saying that Sister Lucia herself (as mentioned above) had said that Heaven had accepted the consecration. He describes an incredulous reaction from Fr. Amorth. β€œLucia said that…?” He asked. Zavala continues:

β€œWell, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone said it, in the year 2000, hiding behind a letter [escudΓ‘ndose en una carta] from Lucia dated November 1989, in which she stated that Heaven had admitted consecration in spite of one of the most important conditions.

β€œHave you seen that letter?” He asks, as if conducting a police interrogation in search of evidence.

β€œNever,” I say flatly.

β€œI do not think you’ll ever see it, because I’m convinced that Lucia did not write it.”

β€œHow are you so sure of that?”

β€œWhy didn’t Bertone show it when he should have, when he announced the Third Secret of Fatima? A simple photocopy of the manuscript, included in the official dossier of the Vatican, would have been sufficient to dispel any doubt. If the Vatican has always been scrupulous in providing the documentary proof that authenticated the information by Lucia on minor matters, what reason would they have to skimp on the only documentary evidence that, according to Bertone, validated a fact that without doubt was of as much importance as the consecration performed by John Paul II?

β€œYes, it’s weird,” I admit.

β€œYou really think Lucia took five years to write that the consecration had been truly accepted? And that Bertone waited no less than sixteen years to announce the validity of something so crucial as the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary?” Father Amorth’s voice sounds like dry leaves.

β€œIt’s all very strange, in truth.” I [Zavala] nod again.

β€œMoreover,” he adds, β€œif the consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary made by Pius XII in 1942 was only partially accepted [because he did not specifically mention Russia – ed], for Jesus said that in view of it the war would only be shortened rather than finished immediately, why would He now change his mind with John Paul II, if Russia was not mentioned on this occasion?”

β€œIt would be an incongruity, yes.”

β€œRather.”

β€œSo…?”

β€œI have no doubt that the consecration did not occur on the terms required by the Virgin. But we must not lose sight of what she herself wanted to tell us through Lucia: β€˜In the end My Heart Immaculate will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me and it will become [come to be], [thereby] granting itself to the world a time of peace’…”

The interview digresses here from the topic of Fatima, but Zavala returns to it again later:

β€œForgive me for insisting on the Third Secret of Fatima: Did Padre Pio relate it, then, to the loss of faith within the Church?”

Fr. Gabriele furrows his brow and sticks out his chin. He seems very affected.

β€œIndeed,” he states, β€œOne day Padre Pio said to me very sorrowfully: β€˜You know, Gabriele? It is Satan who has been introduced into the bosom of the Church and within a very short time will come to rule a false Church.’”

β€œOh my God! Some kind of Antichrist! When did he prophesy this to you?” I [Zavala] ask.

β€œIt must have been about 1960, since I was already a priest then.”

β€œWas that why John XXIII had such a panic about publishing the Third Secret of Fatima, so that the people wouldn’t think that he was the anti-pope or whatever it was …?”

A slight but knowing smile curls the lips of Father Amorth.

β€œDid Padre Pio say anything else to you about future catastrophes: earthquakes, floods, wars, epidemics, hunger …? Did he allude to the same plagues prophesied in the Holy Scriptures?” [asks Mr. Zavala]

β€œNothing of the sort mattered to him, however terrifying they proved to be, except for the great apostasy within the Church. This was the issue that really tormented him and for which he prayed and offered a great part of his suffering, crucified out of love.” [says Fr. Amorth]

β€œThe Third Secret of Fatima?”

β€œExactly.”

β€œIs there any way to avoid something so terrible, Fr. Gabriele?”

β€œThere is hope, but it’s useless if it’s not accompanied by works. Let us begin by consecrating Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, let us recite the Holy Rosary, let us all do prayer and penance …”  [emphasis added]

Thus ends Steve Skojec’s own presentation of certain passages of the new Zavala book on Fatima.

Father Amorth is a witness here to what Padre Pio – whom he first met when he himself was a seventeen-year-old young man – told him directly and personally. Father Amorth states in that same interview that Padre Pio even let him sometimes read his own spiritual diary.

As we reported earlier, Father Amorth had also already stated during his lifetime that he did not believe that the Consecration of Russia has taken place (a statement which was just confirmed by Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes). In December of 2015, Father Amorth had said:

The Consecration has not yet been made. I was there on March 25 [1984] in St. Peter’s Square, I was in the front row, practically within touching distance of the Holy Father. [Pope] John Paul II wanted to consecrate Russia, but his entourage did not, fearing that the Orthodox would be antagonized, and they almost thwarted him. Therefore, when His Holiness consecrated the world on his knees, he added a sentence not included in the distributed version that instead said to consecrate β€œespecially those nations of which you yourself have asked for their consecration.” So, indirectly, this included Russia. However, a specific consecration has not yet been made. You can always do it. Indeed, it will certainly be done…

As with other spiritual sons of Padre Pio – Dr. Ingo Dollinger and Father Luigi Villa, for example – it seems that Padre Pio is still effectively with us, working through those whom he met and guided while still on earth. It seems to be part of his legacy to help us in these difficult times. Let us then pray to Padre Pio of Pietrelcina and ask for his intercession!

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